Michigan football must avoid craziness of typical Michigan State rivalry

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 16: Ambry Thomas #1 and teammate Christopher Hinton #15 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate a win over the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Michigan State Spartans 44-10. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 16: Ambry Thomas #1 and teammate Christopher Hinton #15 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate a win over the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Michigan State Spartans 44-10. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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Michigan football looks to avoid the upset trap in rivalry game against Michigan State on Saturday. Will the Wolverines take care of business?

Michigan is fresh off of a big win on the road at Minnesota last weekend and look to further their case that they are the Big Ten’s second best team after Ohio State.

On the face of everything, the Wolverines and Spartans seem to be two teams heading in opposite directions this season after their opening games. Michigan won big over ranked Minnesota and Michigan State lost by double digits to Rutgers who has been the conferences punching bag in recent years.

That’s a big reason that Michigan is such a heavy favorite.

The big questions that Michigan had coming into the season were on the offensive side of the ball, which has plagued them in recent years and if Saturday was any indication, the Wolverines might have an offensive attack capable of challenging in the Big Ten.

Hassan Haskins and Zach Charbonnet were a great running back duo last week, combining for 10 carries and 152 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Joe Milton looked in control of the offense and gave the Wolverines the balance between running and throwing the ball. The Wolverines looked in control and capable on offense for the first time in six years under Jim Harbaugh.

Michigan State had one of the worst performances last week and it might be a long season in East Lansing. The offense turned the ball over seven times and the defense could not get the stops when they needed them and that led to being upset by Rutgers. Michigan State has been a program on the decline in the past couple of seasons and there is a lot working against new head coach Mel Tucker in 2020.

Tucker was not hired until late in the process and did not get to go through spring practice and that is always key when a new coach takes over. Mark Dantonio did not recruit well in his last few seasons and did not leave Tucker much to work with and that could make this a long rebuild in East Lansing.

Here is how you can watch Michigan vs. Michigan State on Saturday.

Date: Saturday, Oct. 31
Time: 12 p.m. ET
Location: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Venue: Michigan Stadium
TV: FOX
Live Stream: FOX Sports Go

Keys to Victory

For the Michigan offense, I think remaining balanced on offense will be the key to this game. Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis did an excellent job calling plays and keeping Minnesota’s defense on their heels. Rutgers had a bit of a hard time moving the ball when they could not force turnovers and I think running Haskins and Charbonnet to set up the downfield passing game will be key against the Spartans.

For the Michigan defense, they will be looking to force turnovers against what appears to be a very undisciplined and turnover prone offense. Michigan’s pass rush was excellent against Minnesota, but it must be pointed out that the Golden Gophers were missing some starters on the line. If Wolverines pass rusher Kwity Paye can replicate his performance from last week, Michigan’s defense could dominate.

For the Spartans offense, they have to run the ball better than they did against Rutgers. Michigan State could only manage 50 yards on the ground last week and that won’t cut it against the Wolverines. If the Spartans can’t run the ball, that will allow Michigan’s pass to tee off and get in the backfield.

For the Spartans on defense, I think slowing the ground game for Michigan down will be key. If they can do that and force Michigan to become one dimensional on offense, they might have a chance. Joe Milton has not been in a game yet where he has to win with his arm and that should be the game plan on defense for Michigan State.

Betting Odds

Odds provided courtesy of The Action Network

Point Spread: Michigan -24.5
Over/Under: 52

Prediction

I think it would be easy to just look at last week and say that Michigan is going to blow out Michigan State and that this game will be noncompetitive. I think Michigan is the much better team, but so rarely in this series does a blowout occur. Michigan State will be looking forward to this game and it will be their super bowl. Expect a closer than expected game in the first half before the Wolverines pull away.

Final Score: Michigan 38, Michigan State 20

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